Display device.



J. E. ALEXANDER. DISPLAY DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. I2. 191e.

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J. E.' ALEXANDER.

DISPLAY DEVICE.

APPLICATION F|LED1AN.\2, 191e.

Patented May 21,1918.

2 SHEETS-S-HEET 2.

.my m J which the JOHN E. ALEXANDER, OF COVINGTON, VIRGINIA.

DISPLAY DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented liliay 21, 1916.

Application filed January 12, 1918. Serial No. 71,740.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, JOHN E. ALEXANDER, acitizen of the United States, residing at Covington, in the county ofAlleghany, State of Virginia, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Display Devices; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

This invention relates to a display device.

An object of the invention resides in the provision of a device by meansof which articles. may be conveniently displayed in an attractive mannerin a store or the like.

A further object of the invention resides in so constructing the devicethat a great number of articles may be conveniently `stored therein andyet will be movable to positions where they may be observed byprospective purchasers.

lVith these and other objects in view such as will appear as mydescription progresses my invention comprises the combination andarrangement of parts as setV forthin and falling within the scope of theappended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of a device constructed in accordance withmy invention, parts being broken away to more clearly disclose themechanism.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation, parts being broken away.

Fig. 3 is a detail showing the manner in display plates are carried bythe chains.

Fig. 41 is a detail showing the first position which the display platesassume during their reversing movement.

Fig. 5 is a detail showing the secondposition of the plates.

Fig. 6 is a detail showing the third and final position of the plates.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the manner in which the sprockets andtrip arm are mounted on the casing.

In the embodiment of the invention dis closed in the drawings I haveillustrated a casing 1 which includes a skeleton frame and a pluralityof windows 2, the windows being arranged in the ends front and back sothat the goods or articles within the casing may be readily observed.The casing is further provided with a `door 3 adjacent its upper end andin the front thereo-f.

In order that the articles or goods may be conveniently and attractivelydisplayed I have provided the following mechanism:

Mounted-on stub shafts Ll: which extend from and are secured to each endof the casing is a pair of sprockets adjacent the top of the' casing, apair of sprockets adjacent the bottom thereof and a sprocket arrangedbetweeij, the pairs of sprockets, the members of the former pair beingindicated by the reference character 5, the members of the latter pairbeing indicated by the reference character 6 and the last mentionedsprocket being indicated by the reference character 7. A chain 8 passesover the sprockets 5, thence beneath the sprockets 6 and thence over thesprocket 7 at each end of the casing. These chains are actuated bysprockets 9, one sprocket being located at each end of the casing abovethe sprockets 5 and being mounted o-n a shaft 10 which extendstransversely of the casing, through one side thereof and is providedwith an operating handle 11. Thus by means of these sprockets 9 thechains 8 may be moved over the sprockets 5, 6 and 7. It is to be notedthat the space between the sprockets 5, 6 and 7 is entirely clear, infact the only obstruction which extends from end to end of the casing isthe driving shaft 10.

Mounted on the cha-ins 8 and extending between the same are plates 12which normally extend vertically. These plates are provided with ears 13which have slots 14E therein. Lugs 15 which are formed on certain linksof the chains extend into and are slidable in the slots 14, the platesbeing of less length than the distance between the chains. 'Ihus theplates may rotate on the lugs 15 or slide thereon. The center of gravityof the plates is on a line drawn parallel with the upper and lower edgesthereof and extending through the middle points of the slots so thatwhen the lugs 15 are located in the upper end of the slots, as they arenormally, the portions of the plates below the lugs 15 will be ofgreater weight than the portions above the lugs and consequently theplates will hang vertically. But' when the lugs are shifted to the otherends of the slots the plates will be reversed and will also hangvertically at thisI time.

rI`hese plates are provided for the display llO lugs 15 asf pivots.

of various articles and it is myintentionto have the articles arrangedon both sides of the plates.

In order that the positions of the plates may be reversed automaticallyso that when the plates pass the front of the casing at one time thearticles on one side of the plates will be displayed but when they passthe front on their next revolution the articles on the opposite sidewill be displayed. To accomplish this reversal of the plates I haveprovided a trip arm 16 which is secured to one end of the casing bysuitable fasteners 17 and extends into the path of movement of theplates 12. This arm 16 is provided with a weak leaf spring 18 whichextends at right anglesto the arm and is adapted to enter slots 19 inthe plates 12 so as to accomplish the reversal of the plates in a mannerwhich will later be described. Before entering into a description ofthis movement of the plates it is to be noted tha't the trip arm 16 islocated adjacent the shaft 1() but slightly in advance of the same withrelation to the line of movement of the plates.

Now referring to Figs. 4, 5 and 6 in the order named it is to be notedthat as each plate 12 moves upwardly with the chain 8 it will assumesuch a position as shown in Fig. 4 where the leaf spring 18 will extendto the uppermost slot. Upon the further movement of the plate the spring18 will slide inthe slot, the plate at this time riding on the trip arm16 and moving about the When these lugs reach a position between thesprockets 5 the spring 18 will have reached the end of the slot andhaving reached the end it will retard the movement of the plate, thechains continuing their movement, so that the lugs 15 will ride to theopposite ends of the slots 14. When these lugs reach the ends of theslots the further movement of the chains will cause the movement of theplate, and the connection between the chains and the plate flexed. Now

being positive, the plates will be disenfraged from the springs 18, thesprings Iieing at this time the center of gravity of Vthe plate has beenshifted from one side to the other of the lugs 15 so that the edge whichwas formerly the upper edge of the plate swings downwardly and becomesthe lower edge consequently reversing the position of the plate. Thefinal position of the plate is shown in Fig. 6 and the plate retainsthis position throughout its entire movement until it is engaged againby the spring 18 and the trip arm 1G. I have described but one trip armand spring and the action of but one plate but it is to be understoodthat there is a trip arm on each end of the casing and that each platereverses in the same manner as described.

Vhile I have illustrated and described a particular embodiment of myinvention it has merely been for the sake of convenience and I do notwish to be limited to the particula-r embodiment as it is obvious thatnumerouschanges may be made in the details of construction withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of theclaim.

What I claim is In a display device, the combination with a pair ofspaced endless traveling chains, plates extending between and pivotallycarried by said chains and having slots adjacent the ends thereof, andresilient trips engageable in and adapted to contact certain ends ofsaid slots during the course of revolution of the chain whereby to causea pivotal movement of said plates and reverse the positions thereof.

In testimony whereof, I afIiX my in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN E. ALEXANDER, IVitnesses H, H. PARKER, R. C. S'roKns.

signature Uopie of this patent may be obtained for ve' cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patenti.

' Washington, D. C.

